Railway-switch.



Patented 00L 9, |900.

No. 659,5I6.

G. DURCHHOLZ.

RAILWAY S-WITCH. Application mea ren. 2e, moo.) @N0 "ml- 2 sheets-sheetl.

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' No. 659,5l6.

Patented Oct. 9, |900. G. DURCHHOLZ.

RAILWAY SWITCH.

(Applicmznn filed Feb. 2A6, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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a[.lNrrEn STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE DUROHHOLZ, OF GREELEY, COLORADO.

RAILWAYHSWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,516, dated October9, 1900.

Application led February 26,1900. erial No. 6,592. No model.) I

T all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE DURCHHOLZ, a citizen of the United States,residing at Greeley, in the county of Weld and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Switches; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements inrailway-switches; and its object,among other things,is to provide meansof peculiar construction whereby the switch may be opened or closed froma moving train.

To these ends the invention consists in the novel construction andcombination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form ofmy invention, and in which Figure l is a plan View of a switch having myimprovements applied thereto. a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is avertical section through two casings, showing the mechanism therein.Fig. 4 is a plan view of said mechanism. Fig. 5 is a section through theindicator, showing in dotted lines the device open and the leverextended for operation by hand. Fig. 6 is a detail view of aspring-cushion. Fig. 7 is a detail View of the switch-operatingmechanism detached from an engine.

Referring to said figures by letters of reference, A is the main line ofthe railway, having a switch B, the end of which is secured to a slidingbar C, pivotally connected at its opposite ends to connecting-bars D,each of which is pivoted to an angular plate E, one to either side ofthe switch. Each of these plates is centrally pivoted and is preferablypentagonal in shape, and two strong bowsprings, as E', are placed onopposite sides thereof and adapted to bear againsttwo of its sides.

Pivotally secured to each of the plates E, at a point near the inneredge thereof, is a rod F, extending along the main line and provided ata suitable distance from the switch with a ratchet F. This ratchetengages with Fig. 2 is a gear G', which is adapted to be driven by asecond gear G, extending upward through the top of a suitable casing g,inclosing the ratchet and its gears. The rods extend beyond the casingsfor a desired distance, and the ends thereof are mounted and adapted toslide within couplings H. Coiled springs H' are mounted upon the endsand bear at opposite ends upon the heads f of the rods F and the ends ofthe couplings, respectively. It is obvious that these springs willretain the rods normally retracted into the couplings. The opposite endsof the couplings H are mounted and adapted to slide upon the ends ofsimilar rods I, also provided with coiled springs H8, which hold them ina retracted position. These rods I extend along the track for a suitabledistance, and their ends are provided with ratchets J', each of whichengages with a gear J, projecting upward through acasingj,which formsabearing for the rod and practically conceals the mechy anism from View.Rods similar to rods F are pivotally connected to the opposite side ofeach of the angular plates E,and these rods are provided with couplings,oasings, and gearing similar to those hereinbefore described, y

the double gears, dac., F', G, and G', being arranged nearest theswitch. One set of rods, gears, dac., howeveiyextends along the mainline past the switch, While the otherset'is arranged along the sidetrack and adapted tov be operated therefrom. Also pivoted to one of theangular plates is a rod K, which extends back from the track and ispivoted at its other end to the horizontally-extending arm Z of a postor upright L, pivotally mounted in a casing M, as shown, and provided ata point intermediate its length with a handle N, which may be bent uponitself, as shown, and concealed beneath a hinged cover M, secured to thecasing M. The upper end of the upright is provided with a suitableindicating device, as O, whereby the condition of the switch may bereadily determined.

It is to be understood that, all of the rods F and the rod K are pivotedoff the center'of the angular plates E, so that they will be readilyturned when pressure is exerted thereupon from either of said rods.

The engine or tender of a train is provided IOO with means of peculiarconstruction whereby the switch may be operated from the train whilemoving. These means preferably consist of plates P, one to either sideof the en-.

gine or tender and provided at their lower edges with teeth, as P'.These plates are vertically movable on guides Q, formed of bowsprings,as shown. Suitable arms and a lever R are provided, whereby the same maybe readily moved up and down upon the guides by the operator on theengine.

In operation when a train approaches the switch from the main line, theindicator() will inform the engineer whether the switch is open orclosed. If open and it is desired to side-track the train, theslide-plates P are lowered by means of the lever R. The teeth thereonwill come into engagement with the gears J which are farthest from theswitch and the same will be revolved, as is obvious, until the plates Phave passed. The plates P will then be raised. gears will draw the rodsI and F from the switch, turning the plates .E upon their axes andthereby forcing the switch into closed position. The same movement willturn the upright of the indicator O and expose the signal denoting aclosed switch.

The spring E', which firmly bears upon the sides of the plate, will, asis obvious, retain them securely in the position to which they areturned until the switch is again operated.

The springs H within the couplings H are adapted to ease the suddenstrain to which the operating mechanism is subjected when the teeth ofthe operating-plates P first engage with the gears J. The spring-guidesQ of the plates P are also provided to assist in reducing the strainupon-the mechanism.

In the event of a through train approaching a closed switch theindicator O will advise the engineer of the fact and the platesP will belowered after passing the gears J. This will bring them into engagementwith the gears G, which in turn communicate motion to the ratchets Fthrough gears G. This will press the rods I and F toward the plates E,which will be turned back upontheir axes and throw the switch open andat the same time reverse the indicator O.

It is obvious that as operating-gears are placed at all approaches tothe switch the same can be opened or closed by trains coming from anydirection.

When it is desired to operate the switch independently of thetrain-operating `mechanism, it is merely necessary to open the cover r Mof` the casing M and 'turn the handleN Sure.

therein. Y y

As before stated, the bow-springsE will hold the switch in either of thetwo positions to which it is moved and will retain the same in suchpositions against all ordinary pres- -It should also be understood that,if desired, a spring-coupling similar to the couplings H can be placedwithin the rods F between the gears G and G' and the plate E.

The revolution of the This will relieve thesudden jar occasioned by theapplication of the teeth Pv to the gear Gr when the switch is to beopened.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred embodiment of myinvention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware thatmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit orsacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right tomake such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention,

4what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a switch mechanism, the combination of a switch, a` pivotedangular plate connected thereto, springs bearing upon and adapted tonormally hold said platein either of its shifting or axially-movedpositions, and 'means for the actuation of said plate, substantially asset forth.

2. In a switch mechanism, the combination of a switch, a pivoted angularplate connected thereto, springs bearing upon and for normally holdingsaid plate in either of its shiftingV or axially-moved positions, a rodconnected to said plate and means for actuating, and intergeared with,said rod, substantially as set forth.

3. In a switch-operating mechanism the @combination with a switch, of apivoted angular plate connected therewith, springs for normallyretaining said plate in one of two positions, a rod pivoted to theplate, ratchets `thereon, gears engaging with 'the ratchets, and meanswhereby backward or forward movement is imparted `to the rod through thegears and from an onwardly-moving train, substantially as described.

4. In a switch operating mechanism the combination, with a switch, of anangular plate pivoted adjacent thereto, a rod connection therebetween,springs bearing upon the sides ofl the plate for normally retaining thesame in one of two positions, a rod pivoted to said plate and formed ofspring-connected sections, ratchets on said rod, gears meshing with saidratchets, one of said gears driven from a second gear, and means upon atrain for engaging with the driving -gears and whereby the switch may beeither opened or closed from an onwardly-moving train, snby stantially`as described.

5. In a switch-operating mechanism, the combination with the switch, ofa pivoted angular plateconnected thereto, springs adapted to hold saidplate in either of its shifting or axially-movable positions a rodpivoted to i said plate and provided with ratchets, a second rod pivotedto the plate and` connected gular plate connected thereto, springsadaptioo IIO

ed to hold said plate in either of its shifting or axially-movablepositions a rod pivoted to said plate and provided with ratohets, asecond rod pivoted to the plate, its opposite end pivoted to an arm ofan upright, an indicating device on said upright and means engaging withsaid ratchets whereby the switch may be opened or closed from anonwardly-moving train, substantially as described.

7. In a switch-operating mechanism the combination, with a switch, of anangular plate pivoted adjacent thereto, a rod connection therebetween,springs bearing upon the sides of the plate for normally retaining thesame in one of two positions, a rod pivoted to said plate and formed ofspring-connected sections, ratchets on said rod, gears meshing GEORGEDURCHHOLZ.

Witnesses:

GEORGE SCOTT, W. W. LINDSEY.

